I get this question all the time “What are the best toys for setting up a kids play kitchen?” I also have people ask if I think it’s necessary to include a kids play kitchen in their child care program.
So I thought I would share with you my guidelines for selecting pieces for a play kitchen as well as some recommendations.
How to Set Up a Kids Play Kitchen?
Kids Play Kitchen
In an early childhood program like a home daycare, it’s always best to create stimulating environments for the kids to play. You want to create spaces where the kids can use their imagination and creativity. An easy and popular choice is creating a dramatic play center with a play kitchen.
You can definitely go to your local shops, thrift stores, and garage sales to buy some of the pieces you’ll need to create a fun play kitchen for the kids.
But before we look into what kind of products to get, let’s talk about the benefits of setting up a quality play kitchen.
Why is kitchen play important for kids?
Here are a few reasons why kitchen play is valuable for children’s development:
- Playing in a play kitchen allows children to use their creativity and imagination. They can pretend to be anything from a famous chef or a restaurant owner to a parent feeding their family. This simple activity helps children build on different ideas as they expand on their pretend play.
- Children will need to talk with their friends as they play together. This type of play interaction helps children expand their vocabulary and communication skills because they tend to learn new vocabulary words and listen to others as they pretend to take orders or talk about food.
- Kitchen play teaches children how to play and work as a team. They learn to take turns being the chef, the helper, the customer, etc.
- The ability for kids to play together with minimal conflict makes for a better experience for everyone. So developing problem-solving skills, such as how to find solutions and make decisions, is another great benefit children have when playing in a kids’ play kitchen.
- You can also use kitchen play to teach kids about healthy eating. You can talk about the benefits of eating foods that will make them strong and healthy or foods they should avoid, like sugary snacks. Consider adding a few posters or photos of different types of foods to help you in your lessons.
- Also, when children play using kitchen utensils and tools, they strengthen their hand and finger muscles and improve their fine motor skills.
- When kids pretend to cook and serve food, they feel proud of the meals they create. It boosts their self-esteem and confidence. And they learn they can do things and become more independent.
Related: Interested in setting up a quality building block center? Check out the post Best Building Blocks Toys for Kids and Block Play Benefits.
What do you put in a kids play kitchen?
We all want a fun and aesthetically pleasing home daycare, but daycare furniture, and toys can become pricey rather quickly. Personally, I always try to find the best deals. But even on sale, things can add up quickly.
So when first starting to build your kids play kitchen start with the basics. Overtime, you can add more items to your space to mimic a real kitchen.
I want to share some of the common play kitchen items you can get. I hope this list will inspire you to feel like you’re doing the best to prepare a fun and engaging play kitchen for your child care program.
And thankfully, you can buy many of these online, through the comfort of your own home.
Kids Play Kitchen Must Haves for Daycare
Play Kitchen Set:
Yes, a kitchen set is first on the list.
You can choose one of the many different styles. I like this one because it includes basic things such as a stove, sink, microwave and some kitchen utensils.
Personally, I like play kitchens made of a wood type material. I think it blends in better with my home decor.
But if a wooden play kitchen is not your thing, consider checking out this other kitchen set.
Play refrigerator and/or freezer:
If you have the space, this play refrigerator would make a great addition.
I don’t have the space for it, and it makes me a little jealous of those of you that can add appliances to your play kitchen center.
Pretend kitchen stove and sink with running water:
If you are working with a smaller space for your kitchen center, this play cooking stove and sink would be perfect.
Microwave with opening door
I think many play kitchen sets already come with a built in microwave. But if yours does not or if you have the space, this play microwave is a fun option for the kids to include in their play.
Kitchen Play utensils
Kitchen toy utensils such as pots, pans, spatulas, and measuring cups is a must.
You can use things you no longer use or want from your own kitchen or get a toy kitchen set of pots and pans.
Also, you can pick up a few things from the dollar tree to add more variety and build up your kitchen play utensils.
Play food items
No play kitchen is complete without toy fruits, vegetables, and snacks. Luckily, there are many sets of play food you can choose.
Here is a popular plastic food set you might want to consider adding to your play kitchen.
If you prefer, you can add wooden play food or play food made of felt.
Play dishes for kids kitchen.
Every play kitchen needs plates, cups, and silverware. This set of play dishes is sturdy and perfect for child’s pretend play.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Small appliances such as toaster, mixer, and coffee maker are also a nice addition. These will add on to the child’s imaginative play and keep them engaged longer.
Cleaning Supplies
Children will enjoy cleaning up their play kitchen with kid friendly cleaning supplies.
You can get a child-size broom, mop, and cleaning sprays like the ones here. These toys teach responsibility while the kids have fun pretending to do chores.
Table with Chairs
Table for a play kitchen is a must!
There are many child sized tables to choose from simply get something that works for your space and budget.
Related: Are you setting up a home daycare? Here is a post that will help you with the basic equipment you need to start a successful home daycare.
It’s time to set up a kids play kitchen…
When setting up a kids play kitchen, remember, it’s important to choose play kitchen items that are safe for children. Try to choose products that are made from durable and non-toxic materials.
Also, to prevent conflicts between children, it’s a good idea to provide multiple sets of kitchen play toys so that children can take turns cooking and cleaning.
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